While the McLean High School Highlanders did not advance past the quarterfinals of the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League, they did have one player emerge from the season as a true champion in his own right.
Minutes before Stone Bridge took the ice to face Briar Woods in the NVSHL Championship game, senior defenseman Nick Baker learned that he was not only named a First Team League All-Star but also that he was named Player of the Year … an honor that recognizes the league’s Most Valuable Player overall.
“I didn’t think I was even in the running for this award, as there are a lot of really good players in this league,” Baker said. “It truly means a lot to me. It’s a great honor to win this award.”
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
In truth, Baker didn’t win the award … he earned it. In addition to serving as captain of the team that won their division with a 7-2-1 record, Baker led McLean in scoring with eight goals and 16 assists, making him the first defenseman to ever lead the team in points for a season. He also displayed heart and determination when he stepped into an empty net for nearly 10 minutes during last Monday’s quarterfinal loss to Langley, after the team’s starting goaltender was ejected from the contest.
“The best thing about this award is that it brings a lot of respect to McLean High School,” Baker said. “That means a whole lot to me.”
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
A four-year athlete and senior class vice president at McLean, Baker also plays varsity lacrosse while serving as the school’s charismatic Highlander mascot. In addition to the McLean hockey team, Baker also played this past season for the U18 Reston Raiders team, who won the Chesapeake Hockey League Championship in a shootout victory Sunday night. A true scholar-athlete as evidenced by his placement on the NVSHL All-Academic team, Baker has been accepted to the University of Alabama and is awaiting decisions from George Mason and James Madison Universities. Unsure at this point which school will attend, he vows to continue playing both hockey and lacrosse wherever he attends.
And as for the NVSHL Championship game? Stone Bridge won the title for the second consecutive year, topping Briar Woods 7-3.
Steve Winter coaches youth hockey for the Reston Raiders and McLean High School. President of Brotman|Winter|Fried, a sports and entertainment public relations and event management firm, Winter brings to the Washington-area several major youth and adult sports events each year, including the upcoming 2012 U12 Tier II USA Hockey National Championships.
